rewrite this title Real Madrid, PSG drop into UCL playoffs on chaotic final day

Real Madrid were stunningly dumped into the qualifying playoffs of the Champions League by their former coach Jose Mourinho — whose Benfica team advanced on a last-gasp goal by its goalkeeper — on Wednesday and will be joined there by defending champion Paris Saint-Germain.

Madrid started play third in the 36-team standings and despite two goals by Kylian Mbappé lost 4-2 at Benfica and fell to ninth — one place below advancing directly to the round of 16.

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Astonishingly, Benfica advanced to the knockout phase in 24th place only on goal difference because Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time with a dramatic header when Madrid were down to nine players. Red cards were shown minutes earlier for Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo.

“This victory is historic and important,” said Mourinho, who then praised his goalkeeper. “We knew that he could do it. You have to put the ball there, but it’s an amazing goal for the guy.”

Trubin said it was a “crazy moment. I’m not used to scoring. I’m 24 years old and it’s the first time.”

Madrid fell out of the top eight places when Sporting CP got a stoppage-time goal in a 3-2 win at Athletic Club.

Sporting surprisingly joined Liverpool — who beat FK Qarabag 6-0 — Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City in sealing top-eight finishes. Table-topping Arsenal, which completed a perfect eight-win program beating Kairat Almaty 3-2, and second-place Bayern Munich had already advanced to the round of 16 that starts in March.

PSG and Newcastle started in the top eight but drew 1-1 in Paris, which sent them falling in the standings to 11th and 12th, respectively.

Madrid, PSG, Newcastle and last season’s beaten finalists Inter Milan will be in the qualifying playoffs draw Friday for teams that placed ninth through 24th.

Still, PSG went through the playoffs round a year ago in taking the longest path possible with two extra games in February toward their first European title.

“We could have played better, yes, granted. We could have obtained better results, yes. But after analyzing the type of matches that we’ve played, we’re still there, and we’re ready for the next matches,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said.

Norwegian newcomers Bodo/Glimt will be a popular addition to the knockout phase, claiming 23rd place by winning 2-1 at Atlético Madrid. That showed how crucial it was to beat Man City last week inside the Arctic Circle home.

Benfica’s late drama eliminated Marseille, who lost 3-0 at Club Brugge and dropped below the cutoff into 25th place with nine points.

Italian champions Napoli were ousted in 30th place after losing 3-2 at home to Chelsea. Brazil striker João Pedro brace led the Premier League side to a comeback victory.

“The two goals are fantastic, but the way he held the ball up for the team, the way he sprinted and started that press, the harder you work the better you are as a player and I’m very happy to have João in our team,” Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior said.

Also in the playoffs are Qarabag, Brugge, Galatasaray and Olympiakos, plus Juventus and Atalanta from Italy.

Information from The Associated Press and PA was used in this report.